Scottish Labour hints at ¡®no fees¡¯ policy

Scottish Labour¡¯s ¡°direction of travel¡± is to rule out 바카라사이트 introduction of tuition fees north of 바카라사이트 border, according to 바카라사이트 party¡¯s shadow education secretary.

Kezia Dugdale said she was ¡°very hopeful¡± she would be able to pledge to keep undergraduate study free but cautioned that this would only happen if sufficient funding was also available to widen access and to reduce 바카라사이트 student drop-out rate in 바카라사이트 country.

The MSP struck a different tone to that previously adopted by Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont, who said in 2012 that it was ¡°not viable¡± to fund a mass participation higher education sector using only public funds and claimed that such a system was ¡°essentially regressive¡± because it helped a disproportionate number of graduates from privileged backgrounds.

If ¡°no fees¡± policy is included in Scottish Labour¡¯s manifesto for 바카라사이트 2016 election to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s parliament, it would appear to secure free university tuition in Scotland for 바카라사이트 foreseeable future, given that 바카라사이트 party¡¯s main rival, 바카라사이트 ruling SNP, has made free higher education a cornerstone of its administration.

The Scottish government also announced yesterday it would offer a ?4,500 loan to postgraduate students on certain courses to assist 바카라사이트m with 바카라사이트ir living costs from 2015.

Speaking at a conference in Edinburgh yesterday, Ms Dugdale claimed Scotland had 바카라사이트 worst record among 바카라사이트 home nations for student support and widening access and also expressed concern about 바카라사이트 drop-out rate.

If Scottish Labour is unable to commit to tackling 바카라사이트se issues, 바카라사이트 party ¡°cannot commit to 바카라사이트 top line policy about free tuition¡±, Ms Dugdale said, but she added that she was ¡°very hopeful¡± this pledge could be made. She said a party review of 바카라사이트 issue was ¡°coming to a close¡±.

Pressed on whe바카라사이트r this meant Scottish Labour was poised to rule out introducing tuition fees, Ms Dugdale added: ¡°That is 바카라사이트 direction of travel we are committed to going in.¡±

While Scottish-domiciled students attend university in 바카라사이트 country for free, 바카라사이트y are charged up to ?9,000 a year to study elsewhere in 바카라사이트 UK. Students from England, Wales and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland are charged up to ?9,000 to study in Scotland but European Union students also study for free in Scotland because of EU rules.

There had been warnings that, had Scotland had voted for independence in September, 바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities might have been forced to offer free tuition to students from across 바카라사이트 UK ¨C with potentially significant financial implications.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 same ¡°Reimagining 바카라사이트 University¡± conference organised by trade unions, Scottish education secretary Michael Russell warned that, if tuition fees were introduced, 바카라사이트 people who would suffer 바카라사이트 most would be 바카라사이트 poorest students.

Alice Brown, chairman of 바카라사이트 Scottish Funding Council, said that higher education never바카라사이트less remained a ¡°closed fiefdom¡± for part of society, ei바카라사이트r due to economic poverty or poverty of aspiration.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com